Mazda Motor of America, Inc.

About Mazda Motor of America, Inc.

Mazda Motor of America controls the US research and development, sales and marketing, distribution, parts, and customer service operations of Japan-based Mazda Motor Corporation. The company sells or leases its line of cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs through 700 dealerships in the US and Mexico. Mazda Motor of America was formed to strengthen its parent company's hold on the US car market, its largest by volume (China is its second-largest market, then Japan.) Mazda Motor of America, along with sister companies Mazda Canada and Mazda Motor de Mexico, form Mazda's North American operations.

Operations

Mazda USA only handles vehicles imported or exported between the USA and Canada that were originally distributed and sold in the US. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico, a Mexico City-based joint venture production company owned by Mazda Motor and Sumitomo.

Geographic Reach

The US is Mazda's largest market; in fiscal 2015 it sold 438,000 vehicles in North America (compared to 232,000 vehicles in Japan.)

Financial Performance

The company is part of the North America segment for its parent, which contributed 42% of its total revenue in 2015. In North America, retail volume was 438,000 units, up 3% year-on-year. The growth was fueled by continued strong sales of it updated CX-5 and contributions from its CX-3 and all-new MX-5.

Strategy

Mazda has relied on its product lineup for growth and has invested in technology and styling in order to meet the specific regional needs and requirements of its customers. Customers in North America took a shine to the affordable Mazda3 sedan and CX-5 crossover models; both are popular models in the US, along with the Mazda6.

The car company has tailored some of its models to fit the North American audience, hoping to win over a new younger market. It launched the Mazda3 sports compact, as well as four- and five-door styles, and two fuel-efficient engine options. The Mazda6 was made with a larger interior and exterior size and more powerful engines than Mazda6s sold elsewhere in the world. Record sales have been reported for both the Mazda3 and Mazda6 among North American customers.

In 2014 Mazda North American Operations launched its SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine in North America.